Free Episodic Games on Steam
Steam currently has 479 Episodic games available to download and play. Explore our list of the best free games ranked by popularity and ratings. Data for this list is calculated from reviews and player counts reported directly by Steam and will be updated in real-time. Free Episodic game rankings were last updated on 8/16/2025.
Looking for more? Explore other lists such as:
- Best episodic games on Steam
- Best episodic Steam Deck games
- Best episodic Steam games for Mac OS
- Best episodic Linux games on Steam
- Free Steam games
- Most played Steam games
- Best rated Steam games
1. Life is Strange - Episode 1
Episode 1 now FREE! Life is Strange is an award-winning and critically acclaimed episodic adventure game that allows the player to rewind time and affect the past, present and future.
Life is Strange - Episode 1 holds the #1 spot for "best free Episodic game on Steam" with a Player Score of 95. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 170,065 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 163,611 positive reviews and 6,454 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Life is Strange - Episode 1 on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 1/29/2015 |
| Franchise | DON'T NOD |
| Developers | |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 319630 |
2. Life is Strange 2
After a tragic incident, brothers Sean and Daniel Diaz run away from home. Fearing the police, and dealing with Daniel's new telekinetic power, the boys head to Mexico. Each stop on their journey brings new friends and new challenges.
Life is Strange 2 has achieved a Player Score of 85, placing it in the #2 spot for the best free Episodic games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 36,816 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 31,990 positive reviews and 4,826 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Release Date | 9/26/2018 |
| Franchise | DON'T NOD |
| Developers | |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 532210 |
3. Tell Me Why
Tell Me Why is the multi-award winning episodic adventure game from Dontnod Entertainment in which twins use their supernatural bond to discover the truth of their troubled past.
Tell Me Why has achieved a Player Score of 81, placing it in the #3 spot for the best free Episodic games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 14,708 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 12,111 positive reviews and 2,597 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Tell Me Why on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 8/27/2020 |
| Franchise | Xbox Game Studios |
| Developer | DONTNOD Entertainment |
| Publisher | Xbox Game Studios |
| Steam App Id | 1180660 |
4. Higurashi When They Cry Hou - Ch.1 Onikakushi
Higurashi When They Cry is a sound novel. The music, backgrounds and characters work together to create a world that is the stage of a novel for the user to read. They laugh and cry and get angry. The user takes the point of view of the protagonist to experience the story.
Higurashi When They Cry Hou - Ch.1 Onikakushi has achieved a Player Score of 93, placing it in the #4 spot for the best free Episodic games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 5,550 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 5,346 positive reviews and 204 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Release Date | 5/15/2015 |
| Developer | 07th Expansion |
| Publisher | MangaGamer |
| Steam App Id | 310360 |
5. Fears to Fathom - Home Alone
Fears to Fathom is an episodic psychological horror game where each episode unveils a short story narrated by the ones who survived.
Fears to Fathom - Home Alone has achieved a Player Score of 87, placing it in the #5 spot for the best free Episodic games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 9,254 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 8,331 positive reviews and 923 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Fears to Fathom - Home Alone on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 7/2/2021 |
| Franchise | Fears to Fathom |
| Developer | Rayll |
| Publisher | Rayll |
| Steam App Id | 1671340 |
6. Kink.inc [18+]
The Kinkverse is yours, Vice Mayor! With an army of hot, loyal girls on staff, you are on the climb for political power and panty-dropping piles of cash. Run an empire of sex toys as you handle every lubed up mess your kooky mayor creates, and explore thematic universes to seduce more sexy babes.
![Kink.inc [18+] banner](https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/2190210/header.jpg)
Kink.inc [18+] has achieved a Player Score of 51, placing it in the #6 spot for the best free Episodic games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 218 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 112 positive reviews and 106 negative reviews — making it "Mixed" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Kink.inc [18+] on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 3/20/2023 |
| Developer | Tender Troupe |
| Publishers | |
| Steam App Id | 2190210 |
7. The Council
Experience a Narrative Adventure where your choices and character growth truly matter. As a member of a 1793 secret society, live a tale of intrigue and manipulation on the hunt for your missing mother.
The Council has achieved a Player Score of 81, placing it in the #7 spot for the best free Episodic games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 5,405 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 4,534 positive reviews and 871 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play The Council on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 3/13/2018 |
| Developer | Big Bad Wolf |
| Publisher | Focus Entertainment |
| Steam App Id | 287630 |
8. King's Quest
King’s Quest is a collection of five different chapter releases, each focusing on an untold tale in Graham’s past. Discover a wondrous world full of whimsical characters, charming puzzles and perilous dangers in this fun and enchanting coming of age story.
King's Quest has achieved a Player Score of 86, placing it in the #8 spot for the best free Episodic games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 2,903 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 2,615 positive reviews and 288 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on Windows systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Release Date | 7/28/2015 |
| Developer | The Odd Gentlemen |
| Publisher | Sierra |
| Steam App Id | 345390 |
9. Welcome to Free Will - Episode 1
Welcome to Free Will - Episode 1 is the first episode of a choice-driven, adult Visual Novel game. You play as a young man who travels to a small town looking for his missing mother. As you soon find out, the town is packed with many beautiful women.
Welcome to Free Will - Episode 1 has achieved a Player Score of 84, placing it in the #9 spot for the best free Episodic games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 1,537 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,357 positive reviews and 180 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on both Windows and Linux systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Welcome to Free Will - Episode 1 on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 9/22/2021 |
| Developer | Mr Strangelove |
| Publisher | Mr Strangelove |
| Steam App Id | 1743260 |
10. The Lion's Song: Episode 1 - Silence
„The Lion's Song: Episode 1 – Silence" draws the player into the life of a talented young composer, Wilma, preparing for her breakthrough concert, the defining moment of her career. Searching for inspiration she escapes from the pressure for success to the solitude of the Austrian Alps.
The Lion's Song: Episode 1 - Silence has achieved a Player Score of 88, placing it in the #10 spot for the best free Episodic games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 2,226 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 2,056 positive reviews and 170 negative reviews — making it "Very Positive" on Steam.
It can be played and ran on both Windows and Linux systems. At the moment, there is no confirmed information regarding Steam Deck support for this game.
| Release Date | 7/7/2016 |
| Franchise | Mipumi Games |
| Developer | Mi'pu'mi Games GmbH |
| Publisher | Mi'pu'mi Games GmbH |
| Steam App Id | 437160 |
More Free Episodic Games
Explore even more rankings for the 45 best free Episodic games available on Steam.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 275 | 1/29/2015 | 95 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 151 | 9/26/2018 | 85 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 69 | 8/27/2020 | 81 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 36 | 5/15/2015 | 93 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 29 | 7/2/2021 | 87 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 27 | 3/20/2023 | 51 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 12 | 3/13/2018 | 81 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 12 | 7/28/2015 | 86 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 11 | 9/22/2021 | 84 | Free | Steam Charts | |
| 4 | 7/7/2016 | 88 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 3 | 6/17/2024 | 84 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 2 | 12/21/2015 | 84 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 2 | 12/13/2024 | 70 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 2 | 4/9/2025 | 63 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 2 | 1/12/2018 | 74 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 1 | 12/20/2024 | 69 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 1 | 5/2/2018 | 78 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 1 | 1/31/2021 | 55 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 1 | 8/16/2024 | 80 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 1 | 9/30/2017 | 74 | Free | Steam Charts |
Soures & References
Steambase has best-in-class data powered directly by Steam, our data partners, and in-house experts. Player counts and rankings are enriched, analyzed, and updated in real-time to ensure we surface the most up-to-date insights. Learn more about the Steambase approach to data collection and our review methodology.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, August 16). Steam Store. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, August 16). Life is Strange - Episode 1 on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, September 3). Life is Strange 2 on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, August 13). Tell Me Why on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, August 19). Higurashi When They Cry Hou - Ch.1 Onikakushi on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, September 1). Fears to Fathom - Home Alone on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, August 16). Kink.inc [18+] on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, September 4). The Council on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, August 13). King's Quest on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, August 16). Welcome to Free Will - Episode 1 on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2025, July 10). The Lion's Song: Episode 1 - Silence on Steam. Steam Store.